I've Come to Negotiate
Han Junhee, 22 years old. Even in the midst of his bewilderment, he didn't forget to post on the logal.
Just ran into Seola at Jamsil Station subway. Straight talk: Seola's a girl, for real. I kept telling you guys Seola's eyes prove she's a chick, fuck. Anyway, she sat right in front of me and just stared blankly for a few minutes... Looked exactly like in-game. Thought about asking for a pic but it'd seem rude, so I decided to say I watch her streams.
TBH, I was hoping she'd cuss me out. From chat, she seems like a total bitch, so figured she'd drop f-bombs IRL too. If she'd said "loser fuck off and die," I'd have ascended to heaven. But turns out the real loser was Seola. When I talked to her, she apologized and bolted. Total asocial otaku bitch bot lmao. Still processing wtf happened;;; But hey, saw her face IRL, satisfied ㅇㅇ
Of course, no one believed him. Like the boy who cried wolf. Since he'd been the one spamming shitposts claiming "Seola's a girl" all along, no one was buying it.
However.
A single post that went up a few minutes later completely flipped public opinion.
I'm at Jamsil rn and Seola's right in front of me lmao. And yeah, she's a total asocial otaku like the hate-post said. Trying to hail a cab, fumbling alone and missing three already rofl
Following that, the anonymous drifter actually took a photo and posted a new thread.
[Photo]
[Photo]
[Photo]
Legit. I showed my face too so not creepshot. Anyway not.
As soon as he posted the photos, the comments exploded. In under five minutes, it hit real-time best, and pics of the presumed Seola spread across every community. Complete with the drifter's cocky selfie, of course.
Life is a series of choices. Should've done this here, that there. Wrong choices just leave regret.
I'm regretting a wrong choice to my bones right now.
Fuck.
Wish I'd possessed a chaebol heir and taken a cab from the start today.
After getting properly humiliated on the subway, it took four more random strangers approaching me just to grab a cab. Three called themselves fans, one just wanted my number.
So yeah, today I said "sorry" five times. What the hell do I even have to be sorry for? I feel pathetic as fuck.
Can't even greet fans who donate to me properly, just spit out "sorry" and run away? What kind of shit is that.
Not much of a secret, but I'm terrible at talking to people. Natural result, really.
More accurately, I haven't left the house in six months, so no chance to practice speaking. Even at the convenience store, I'd just hand over cash silently and leave. No friends or family for calls, no in-game mic, so zero talking in-game either.
Result: this. Humans are social animals; skip the social stuff and you lose social skills. Learned that crystal clear today.
So from now on, I should practice talking... nah, who am I kidding. After this sponsorship deal, no need to go out anyway.
How many minutes did I spend freaking out alone in that cab? Before I knew it, we arrived.
Scared someone else might recognize me, I hurried to the meeting spot.
Luckily, everyone I'd met so far was friendly. Fans, after all.
But what if I run into haters? Like Kang Manbok types who wanna rip me apart.
Wouldn't end well.
That guy's got muscles impossible in char maker – synced from real life. Means IRL he's jacked like a trainer.
Probably fold me in half if he saw me. And he's a ranker streamer like me. Could bump into him during negotiations if unlucky.
Sensing danger, sweat beaded down my back. Not just back – my tits too.
In full turtle mode, I slunk into Lord of the Warrior HQ like a criminal.
That's when it happened.
"Please show your ID..."
"GyaAAAAAH!"
There he was. Hulking build, towering over 190cm. Definitely him. Kang Manbok.
Bolted without looking back, replaying his words. Yeah, "Please show your ID."
"..."
Security guard. Duh.
Ah. Wanna die.
"...Please show your ID."
"N-no ID... name's... uh, S-Seola..."
"Yes, you're on the list. Go ahead."
"S-sorry..."
Sixth time. Why so many apologies today?
……
……
The road here was hell, but the sponsorship negotiation was anticlimactically simple.
Makes sense – I planned to accept whatever they offered anyway.
The rep was shocked seeing my face but quickly went pro mode, leading the talk like a top corp employee.
Thankfully, monthly support was over 1.5 million won. No need for part-time, eat whatever – pure bliss. I grinned like an idiot, mouth gaping.
"...Ms. Seola?"
"Uh-heh, ehehehe..."
"Seola."
"E-eh, y-yes? Ah... s-sorry..."
Seventh.
Wonder if I'll hit ten.
"...Anyway, moving on. Sponsorship settled. Next: streaming policy. Um, bit awkward, but your playstyle..."
Total toxic no-manners griefer. I nodded unconsciously.
"Yes. We respect your style fully – even cheesy plays are part of Lord of the Warrior's fun. But as partner streamer, no special treatment. Keep that in mind always."
"Yep."
Obviously. Just don't cross sanction lines.
Game pushes "freedom" to extremes – minor griefing's fine. Stay on the right side.
With streaming warnings done, end in sight.
"Finally, your personal controversies."
"Ah... l-like, stop griefing or...?"
"No, we respect playstyles as said."
Phew. If griefing on stream was banned, I'd drop streaming anytime. Some joys money can't buy.
Griefing > cash.
Rep continued.
"On char maker hack suspicions... Our logs show zero evidence. And seeing you IRL, the whole debate's laughable. You look exactly like in-game. So beautiful, yet hack accusations? Hahaha!"
"..."
"...Ahem."
Uh. Should I have laughed along?
Rep, adapting to my awkward socially-deficient vibe, pushed through the cringe.
"Using a mic would clear it right up, but why no mic...?"
"..."
"...I get it somewhat, but you need to address the hack rumors somehow. Letting it fester hurts us both."
"O-okay..."
Unfair. I explained in my way. Took 400k donation to reveal gender.
I'm no conscienceless liar for cash.
Mic. Really gotta use it?